Flow tube and valve therefor



July 7, 1925.

A. P. STECKEL FLOW TUBE AND VALVE THEREFOB Filed March 14, 1921, Sheets-Sheet 1 m .6 Y O c f l,

l l 2 c l July 7, 1,925.

. P. STECKEL.

I FLOW TUBE AND VALVE THEREFOR I 2 vSheets-Sheet. 2

Filled March L4, 1921 nAA/ 'yf QP,

Patentedinly 7, l1925.r

raxrarrrV OFFICE.

Annan r. s'rnoxsn, or YoUNosrowN, omo.

FLOW rusia Nn lvarar'lirrrnBaron.

Application n id March 14, 1921;: `Serial No. 451,970.

ToA all lwhom it may concer/t.'

Be it known that I, ABRAM STEKEL,

citizen of the VUnited States, residing at' Youngstown, in the county of Mahoningl and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful' Improvement in Flow- Tubes and Valves Therefor, `of which the following is a specification.; l

This inventionrelates to means for guiding and controlling the flow of fluids in conduits. v

One ofthe objects of this'invent-ion is to provide a flow 'passage or 'tube for fluids, of.

improved construction, whereby the lluid can pass from "a smaller to a lar er conduit without"'involving an excessive oss of en-` ergy 'and 'without .necessitating the use of al long, tapering tube' such as lcommonly used. Another object I of the invention A is 'to combine with a ilow passage of ythis kind, a valveof improved construction or interrupting or controlling the A.flow of fluid througha'conduit,vwhich valve can be built much more compactlynand consequently atless expense than was heretofore possible; also to provide a valve` for interrupting the i i flow of luids inr aconduitwhich can be ac- ,the invention.

tuated bythe. pressure of theiluid in the `conduit; also to improvefthe construction' of vilow 'passages and valves of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified. In the accompanying drawings: ,Fig l'isv alongitudinal sectional elevation o'f'a ilow tube orlpassage embodying Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevationv thereof on line 2--2 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of alow tube havingcombined therewith a valve for interrupting the flow of fluids through the passage.

Fig. 4 `s` a transverse" sectional elevation thereof on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal 'sectional plan .view thereof on line 5 5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a ilow tube showin" means for operating the controlling 'valve by the pressure of the 'fluid in the coliduit or tube..

It is well known that if a fluid flows from -a passage of greater diameter Ilto one kof lesser dia1neter,"no material loss of energy occurs, but when a fluid flows from :repassage of smaller .diameter to one of greater diameter a very considerable loss of head occurs unr'stallation, especially if used' on y a long, gradually tapering passage, which prevents the loss of energyl of the fluid. This long, tapering passage requires a considerable length of straight pipe line or inn pipes of large diameter such as water mains, Vand this invention aims to eliminate the necessity for having a long, tapering tube of this kind and to replace the same Iby a comparatively short tube or passage, which reduces materially the 'difficulty ofl inding'available space for installation'in the crowded interior of pumping stations, etc.

.The flow tubes shown inthe drawings all connect with a pipe or conduit A l from which the fluid enters the flow tube, and a tube or conduit B into which the lluid 1s discharged. The p-ipes A and B as shown `theinvention which is provided with an inlet end o of the same internal diameter as and connecting with the pipe A,and a outlet or discharge `end c of .the same internal diameter as ythe pipe BL and.connectingtl1ere with. The flow tube is provided with acontracting portion c, which may be substanf tially frusto-conical in form, as shown, and Which'is arranged at the inlet portion of the 'flow tube, and which may, if desired, be sub-V stantially the .same in' its general shape and form as the contracting portion of the usual kVenturi tube.- The contracted portion or small end of the portion 02 is connected with a diffusing portion or shell D which tapers yoppositely from the contracting portion c2,

tion 02, as shownin Fig. 6, or may be connected therewith by means of a tube or passage d as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

This diffusing portion of the tube expands very much more abruptly than the usual'diffuser of a Venturi` tube and has its largest diameter lconsiderably greater than that of the pipe B. From the part of greatest diameter the -difuser shell is i ameter is substantially the samel as the crossK i' shovvnterminating in a conical end e, They 'contracted as shown at d and,term inates in thev discharge 'portion c of the liovv tube., In order' to cause the,I fluid to `flow efficiently throughV the abruptly expanding portion of the shell, an internal'diusing member E is yprovided Within the diiuser shell D. This member cooperates with the difl'user'shell to form a lsnhstantially conical passage through which the fluid passes, consequently it the diffuser shell' D, 1s

frusto-conical in form, the internal diffus; ing member should also be :truste-cornealy 4or conical and should b'e substantially concentric with the shell. f'lhe internal member and shell ,are preferably so proper? tioned `that the cross sectional arca of the flow passage at thepart of greatestv d1- sectional ,area of the pipeB intowhich the fluid isv discharged.' The vinternal diffusing member E is preferably provided with a blunt frontend e and the rear end thereof may be formed in any desired manner, that less theoretical merit but( yielding higher elliciency inW practice, have been used 1nstead. t I have discovered the reason :for this failure' and vby 'applying remedies which form party of this invent-ion, have `obtained efiiciency practically `equal tol that of the long, straight Venturi tube.

,I have discovered that to realize this high eiliciencyl the fluid lmust be directed linto f 'the expanding conical passage in such a A`Way that each particle of `fluid startsv into the comcaljpaslsage moving naturally along a conicalv element from which itis not delected by containingwalls'until completely slowed down at the large end ofA the diffuser to the rate of flow desired in the discharge tube B3, If this condition `is realized,

. the containing conical Walls', both inner and outer, have practically nothing to do with shaping or directing the hollon7 jet and all the deflection that there is depends principally on the diameter and only slightly on the shape of the point on the inner cone, as' related to the diameter of the jet impinging on it. This means that so far as direction of,y each particle'of fluid is concerned, there i's a condition of free flow established by impingement on the point of inner cone in a manner fully discussed in United States Patent No. 1,223,843, but that patent applies "only to the particular menace case of impingement on a plate of much greater area than the crosssectalon of 1mpagina je.

I 'employ the principle setforth in Patent .Noo 1,223,843, .that is, that change 'of ld1rec.

'loss if accomplished "by direct impingemen't on a deilecting surface than iffaccomplished w. tion of `iovv ,is attended With m'uchA less L by How through a curving passageway.

However, Puse a surface of `much less area thanthearea,v of the jet soas lto get the' vsmallkl angle of deilection thatfIv employ instead of the large surface as` shown in iven dimensions to an amount Ifar less than 1s obtainable with conical, hollow jets. j

Since the ideal condition aimed at in,`

designing the dellecting" point is a condition of free flow along conical elements of any chosenconical angle, the edect of any size m or 'shapeoffdelecting surface' may bedi'frectlyr and easily'observed by experiments `with an open jet. l Similarly, the proper contour of curved 'surface that joins to# gether theA throat portion wvith the outer conical `diffuser shell can be found 'by observing thegcontour Vof the` deflected, free jet lat this region. I rind that a flat point,

as shown in the drawings, gives as good ay yresult as lcan be obtained, and that crownbeneiicial effect. [The important improvenient introduced by designing in accordance with the performanceof a free jet is that the'p'oint is cut baclr farther making it` larger in diameter than in models that werey hitherto unsuccessful, and the lon7 eiliciencly of which have prevented the use of this ideal form of dif'u'ser. v Flow tubes of this lrind .may be Aused to recover velocity head Wherever there is occasion'for liquid to flow from a smaller to a lar er tube, or to new away from any 'hydraullc device into an open pool: For example, in Fig. 1, the How tube is shown asused in connection with a Venturi meter,

a ga e for indicating differences in pressure' eing indicated' diagrammatically at :u in Figs. 1 and 3.

I.have found that it is possible to combine With the internal diusing member a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the flow tube, the valve cooperating with the restricted portion of the 'low tube. Heretofore, when it was necessary to place a valve 1n a large pipe, the valve necessarily had to be of very large size and Was consequently costly to install nd considerable time was required to open or close the valve. By means of the construction shown, a very ing the point, or the additiony of a needle point or any like vmodifications* have no muchy smaller valve can bel used, thus .effecting a saving in expense-and also making it possible to open and close the valve,l in. less time. In the construction shown ,-'fr this purpose in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the inner-'diffusing member is made in' -two parts, a hous- .ing or body portion F and a movable valve member or part G, which forms the reduced position in Wliichitsouterfaee g is inpro er 'relation to the housing The threaded f shaft H may be turned in any suitable man- .4.0 ner, for example, by means of gears lith? I ydiiuser. shell .of the How tube.

ff ony the valve housing.. f2 lrepresents a closure for the valve housing. The movablev valve member may be actuated by any suittable means to open or close the valve'. lIn1 the construction shown forithis purpose,'the

, movable valve member is'provided with an A internallyL threaded part g2 .with which a threaded stem .H engages, which is journalled in a .bearing member h secured on the housing member and which is held 'from' cndwis'e movementthereon by collars'Vtlh.`-

This 'bearing member is preferably removably secured in the valve housing to facilitate assembling of the parts "of the valve,

and this bar preferably'also forms a stop for the valve to limit the rearward movement of the valve at pointewhere the=valve is in a secured respectively on the threaded' stem :and ena rod or shaft It*` which is suitably' journalled in the valve housing F and the The shaft h* may be turned in any desired manner, for example, la ,hand Wheel h5. If desired, the

used in conjunction with each other as indicated yin Fig. 3.

when a. liquid is sowing in a. ion Upipe line and the flow is suddenly stopped y the A closing ofy a valve, there ,is bound to result a noisy and often dangerous water hammer:

which is the result of one or both of`two causes, as follows. The too sudden arresting ofthe momentum of the liquid in the up stream side may set up aidangerously high momentary pre sure, accompanied by noise,

by an action" egtha't of the hydraulic ram. I make provisieii against any such dangerous pressure by a device described later, and

shown in'Fig. 6. The other cause of water', hammer Aifs the vacuumy formed" in the` down stream side lof the valve if the valve closes more suddenly than water beyond the valve will stop. 4'In thatcase, wh'enfthe water re,

4turns to fill up the vacuum, an uncushioned blow results 'which often breaks a valve orpipe line. To provide against such un cushioned blow I provide a checkvalve I in the down stream side of the valve which opens inwardly toadmit air, both to prevent the formation of a vacuum which might cause water to return, and to provide an air cush- -ion to break the blow if the water does return.

meter in' connection with avalve, the contracting portion of the flow passage can be made much more abrupt, as shown in Fig. 6, which makes it possible to reduce the length of the flow tube toI a still greater. extent than in the constructions shown in `Fi 1-5.

In Fig. 6l a valve is shown which may be` operated by means of the pressure of theI .fluid in the flow tube. In this construction the; inner diffusing member consists of a housing or guide portion K, suitably securedy l to the shell of the 4dow tube and having-a cyi lindrieal guide portion 'k in which awmovable plunger or valve member L is slidably mounted. The outer end l of the valve` member .forms substantially a continuation of the valve housing K, lthese two parts, to'- gether forming the diffusing member. "The portion Z of the plunger or valve member is 4made slightly. more pointed than'thedif- ,fusing portion of the shell of the ow tube,

WhenV it is not desired to use a .Venturi ao.A

so that whentthe valve member' is in its closed position itwill contact. along an edge of the neck -portion'of theflow tube. Although the diffusing passageway, is shown `as of even `width in all the figures, the passageway may .be widenedvvtoward the discharge end, the

limitingv taper. being-avery small angle.

The valve orllpllungerwhenin its openlposition engages a head ci ,which iisl preferably.r l

lOl)

removable to afford access to the cylinder lc andV is adaptedto form a tight joint or seal.` ,with the plunger L 'when the 'same is in 4its' f inner position if packing is not `used to seal valve described and a Venturi meter vmay be the fit of the plunger.' The plunger Ij'is nor-fy mally pressed loutwardly by means olf 'a spring l', which, however, exerts onl suicient pressure to overcome any' s ri tion which may resist movement ofthe plunger out ofthe cylinder. The pressure exerted in detail later. yThis pipe is adapte to re` 1.30 'I 'ceivc pressure from either one of the two M by means of a threefway valve m3 The V.branch pipe m isV provided with a check valve m4 which permitsi'uid to flow from the branch pipe m toward the pipe m2 and which prevents the flow of fluid in the opposite direction. The branch pipe m is :provided with a checkvalve m5 Which permitsY fluid to'i-W from this branch pipe to the pipe m2 and `prevents the flow of fluid 1n -the reverse direction. Consequentlyivhen the valve-m3 is turned into the position to con* f nect the `pipe m2 with the pipe M, the pipe Mlwill' receive Huid underpressure lfrom either the pipe im or m', depending upon which pipe receives the greater pressure. It

would not be necessary to provide the presstay'clo'sed against pressure on the ,entering sure pipem if the valve had only to close or side. However, therel may be occasions whenf the valve must close or stay closed when there isA a; severe flow yor tendency to severe flow Wheri'the valve is closed. Without the connection m the valve would not stay olosedagainst a pressure greater in thepipe B than lin the pipe A'ifthe difference applied to the annular area of thevalve exposedto pressure in 'B were 'suiiicient to overcome the spring. By providing the pipe m, the higher pressure, whether ontheI side A or B,'can ybe automatically 'available 'for' application tothe Whole area of the i plunger so that closing and staying closed are positive against normal flow or reverse'flow. m8 represents a strainer which maybe used, if desired, and m7 represents a safety valve of any usual or suitable type which will permit the escape of the fluid from the pipe M in ease the pressure of the fluid in the pipe M becomes excessivefor reasons# given later. m8 represents a drain pipel which" may be connecte-d with? the pipe M by means of the valve m3. v y i f In the operation of this valve-closing mechanism if the fluid is Howing to the right in Fig. 6, and the valve m3 is turned into a position to move the plunger valve L into its closing position, by connecting the pipe mz with the pipe M, the branch plpe m will permit fluid to pass into the ipe M and thus exert a pressure on the unger valve L, tending to move it toward its seat in the contracted throat portion of the iow tube. The pressure of the Huid in the throat portion of the flow tube being less than at the part thereof with which the branch pipe m. connects, the plungerk valve will be readily moved into its closed position by the combined action 'ofthe spring Z and the fluid admitted by the pipe'M. Owing to the fact levenafter the iflow :of-liquid has been viioW tube, which tends. to 'unseatthe valve.

Consequently, the valve Will'remain seated stopped. The function of the safety valve' m'r'is to automatically retard Ithe rate of y closing of the valve so as toprevent the valve from closing fast enough to cause too' great a rise of pressure in a long pipe line on `the enteringside. The safety valve sets a limit to the' pressure vthat can be `:applied back of the plunger and so sets a corresponding limit to the pressure that can be built up in the 'f line to the left due to too rapid closing. I 'f 8D i it is desired to' again open thepliinger valve, the three-Wayv-alve m3 is, turnedl into'a position in which the pipe M is connected with the discharge or drain pipe ma with they result thatthe vflluidvacting on the plunger valve L";isdischarged because the pressure acting on the facet of the plunger valve L- Willforce the plunger valve back into `its open position, the spring tension beingy ea-sil y overcome by the full line pressure. in "the plunger. f'

`I claimas my invention: Y

1. In a pipe line for carrying fluids, a flow' tube for obtaining contraction of areaand consequent efficient enlargement of area Within minimum lengthof tube, characterized by a contracted entrance throat and Ahollowconical diusing portion containing an internal conical didusing member con? centrically arranged in said portion.

2. A `flow tube according to claim Il char?. acterizedin that the internal ydiffusing mem- 'l erd'has a blunt point facing the flow of 3. A ilovv tube according to claim 1 characterized in that the stream lines Within the diffusing portion are straight.

.4. A flow tube according to claim 1 characterized in that the stream lines :Within the' 'diffusing ortion are vstraight and the internaldi using member has a blunt point facing Vthe iiow of Huid.

5. A How tube according to Iclaim 1 char- `acterized in that a valve for yclosing oit' the How in the pipe line forms a part of said vinternal diffusing member. l 6. In a pipe yline a plunger valve for 'controlling the iow of Huid in Said pipe line v actuated directly by pressure of the fluid in the pipe line, a passage connecting said pipe line with said plunger valve and a safety valve in said passage for limiting the pressure transmitted to said plunger.

7. A How tube having a contracted entrance throat portion, a'` diifusing portion the diameter of which increases in; 'e di,-y rection of iiow of the fluid, an 'inner fifusing member arran' ed in said ydiffusing' por-v tion` and spaced t erefrom to formf-:therewith an annular tapering diifuisingvpassage,

the middle part of said diffusing memberJ being vmovable toward and from said throat `portion and forming av plunger guide in .the other partof said inner diifusing' mem-y ber, means for conducting fluid from said l tube to said plunger to actuate the same, and

v ha-ving branchesJ connecting with said tubek a safety valve Y.which prevents the trans- 'rnlssion of excessive pressure to said plunger.'

8. A flow tube `havinga contracted entrance throat portion, a valve adapted tov closeV said [tube at said throat portion, a plunger connected with lsaid, valve, a pipe Ijatopposite sides of saidthroat portion and connected. with said plunger, and check valves'ln said branches Which-permit Huid in said, branches' to. flow only toward said plunger, whereby said valvemay be closed by any pressure in sai tube. A

v9'. A. flow tube having a contracted entrance throat portion,'.a valve adapted to close said tube at said throat portion and arranged within said tube and movable against the How of uid into 'its closing po-v si'tibn, a.plunger connected -With said valve, a pipe havingbranche's connectin with said tube at opposite sides of said t roat por! tion and connecting with said plunger, and

'check valves in said branches which permit Huid-in said |branchesto flow only toward said plunger, whereby `said valve may be vclosed by'any pressure insaid tube.

.10. A iow tube having acontracted entrance throat" portion, a valve adapted to.

close said 'tube at said throat portion, a

.plunger conncctedwith ,said valve, a pipe having branches connectingiwith said tube at opposite sides of said throat ortion and connecting with said plunger, c eckvalves in saidbranches which permit fluid inl said branches to flow onlyv toward said plunger,

w ereby said valvemay be closed by any pressure in said tube, and a safety valve arranged to limit'the pressure acting on said flow -'tube having a contracted en? plunger.

trance throat portion, a valve adapted to close said tube at said throat portion, a

'plunger connected l with saidk valve, a pipe aving branches connecting ,with said tube valve in said` pipe'which may be turned into a position to; permit fluidv to pass into said' v plunger to move the same into a closing` 0- sition and which may discharge'the Huid from said p lunger tol 'permit the same to return to its open position. 1

12. A flow tube having a contracted entrance throaty portion, a valvefadapted to fclose said tube at said throatportion, a3

plunger connected with said valve, a pipe v having branches connecting withsaid tube at'opposite sides of said throat ortionand connecting with 'said plunger, c leek valves in said branches whi'ch'p'ermit fiuid in said branches to iow only toward said plunger, whereby said valve may be `closed. by the t pressure in said tube, and a vspring which acts on said valve in a' direction to close the Same.

ABRAM P. STECKEL. 

